Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-05-15


hoard. too. of week or so growth,
s,nbby and rough, looking as IL 1t had
been Jagged of with scissors.
The Doctor hurried me through a
lonp hall. / did not have time to look
around. but ] noticed that there were
many doors ike my own opening Oil
from it on either side. For TINS ana
other reasons ! concluded that was IN
a large private hospital. He turned
mo over to another man, who led me
To a bathroom. What q reireshment
il was TO feel tie touch OF the cool
water upon my skin. J was 10th TO
leave it, hut when finally came ont OF
it and dressed myself in the fresh
clothing provided for me felt liko a
new man.
Would you like to take shave,
sir?" asked the attendant in whose
hands I had been placed. lie put. the
question little doubtfully, but there
vas no hesitation in my mind as ran
my hand over my chin. -,
"Indeed would, replied heartily.
"Show me the WAY 10 q barber. there
q good fellow" For answer, he took
me.out Of door and across little
open court TO what seemed another
bIench Of The establishment There
were a knight Of the razor and his as
sisiant. both stout, burly-looklng men,
and shelves flied with bottles and
.havinc-mugs, looking as If they did "a
rushing business. There was no one
else there when we entered. i threw
myself down in the chair.
Now give me n nice, quick shave,
[ said. "for I'm in hurry and no time
TO SPARE" The man who came IN with
me posted himself near by, as II he
took friendly interest in the opera,
ton. Tie barber tied towel round
10y neck, lathered my face, and went
about the operation. He probably did
The best he could but he was a very
bunglirg fellow. / stood it until he
had cut me a couple OF times ; then, az
be tried to staunch the blood with
napkin, snatched up the razor and
ran my finger over it.
"How on earth can you shave with
such an edge 2" l exclaimed, taking up
the strop and beginning to run the
blade along it. You would have
thought | meant 10 cut their throats,
such an expression as all three wore /;
and they began to move off from me.
"I'll finish this job myself, said
ccoliy, and walked up TO o mirror. 1t
WAS really absurd TO see how they ges-
ticuIated when / turned my back to
them. but 10y the time / had got
through and laid the razor down they
appeared to feel relieved. Looking in
the glass / was really surprised to see
how little trace there was left OF all |
hod suffered. My face was little
sharp and thin, that Was all.
GLOW much shall / pay you y
smiling ct them uther contemptuously,
until | happened to remember that |
Led on suit Of clothes 1 had never
worn before and that, as had already
been lodged and boarded aud had med
ical attendance, my financial condition
must he rather shaky.
"Ch. rotlhng, nothing they as
tuIt Il IJf Nilf lbNt'l lhhh'o al tI"t
right" aye, TIE Doctor. / had yet to
see Linn oud find ont how much ny bill
was and Lave some understanding
about paying it. had already firmly
made up ny mind to 60 back 10 tn
farm and work It. and leave all non
sCusical Inventions 20 men vino had
mercy TO spare for experimentation
HE Tom Jones. for INSTANCE.
Tie i octor was il 3 sort Of study.
Books all around him, on every 81 Ia.
BE locked very serious.
est down. sit down, Brown.
obcyed him, wondering
Now, my man, think little. Can
ycu tell me where you were and what
yon were doing before you came to
New York? "
AT the State fair, in Smartsyille,' /
answered promptly. showing OIL my
machine and waiting for ii to be tested.
II was awful hot weather all over the
country the first OF this month, you
know. ] got clean tagged out. Then
there came "a thunderstorm, and the
air was so cool changed coats with 4
friend WHO WIS near the engine, and
then something blew up. My head was
eashed-I believe in my heart that had
something TO do with my headache.
Poor fellow Poor fellow - said
The Doctor. Brown, are you strong
crouch-is your brain clear enough, are
ycur nerves steady-ab.e to bear Sc
vcreshock -
Yes. sir, I said calmly. but my
Heart commenced humping like trip
hammer. knew something had hap
pened TO Jrnc or the children.
TEL ne quick, sir" l said. 81
don't feel oyerstrong. and if TIA any
thing hard to bear I'd rather begin TO
get used to it right away"
"Whcre 90 you suppose Won are and
how long DO you think you've been
here ?" said The Doctor beating about
the bush, like.
81 suppose Is some sort Of hospital, "
| said slowly. And as tTthe time
maybe It's a week hope ~ not more.
The folks at home would BE- worried Al
not hearing from me.
"My poor fellow" sid the Doctor,
and this time ] sbranl from the pity in
his voice, my POOR fellow, this IS the
State Insane Asylum, and yoa have
been here sixteen yeas.
"Ob, my God! - | cried, and cOuld
ret no further. The awul horror OF II.
The pity OF it. What WIS tire u.s. try
ing to comfort me, what was the use
telling ne to kccpup my spirits ? SIX
teen years gone ont OF mans lie am
he not know it And my wife and
children Where are they, what could
they think, and what had they suffered /?
Brown" said the Doctor Mt last,
"control yourself for their slkes, II
not for your own. There is some mys-
terry about tbs thing that | can't IN
derstand. and you must help me to get
at it. Why is it that you We're not
missed when that explosion occurred,
aud why were not your friends in
curing after you? You came here az
a man whose identity could not be made
ont. The only papers found on yOu
were some circulars containing cuts and
n description OF an incubator with the
name of the inventor torn OFF. Let M
see-wbat year was it when that ex-
pIosion occurred! All, lSj-; and the
month ? August. Correct. Let u
look up the matter.
Pe went to cupboard beneath the